Many products in Canada feature the iconic maple leaf, but not all of them are truly Canadian-made.
Some companies are guilty of what experts refer to as “maple washing,” a practice where symbols or marketing tactics are used deceptively to claim products as Canadian.
For consumers seeking to support local products, relying on labels can be tricky.
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, a professor specializing in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University, explains, “When you dig deeper, you realize there are varying degrees of Canadian authenticity in products.”
An illustrative case is found in a pouch of walnuts from Nutworks. While the pouch bears a Canadian symbol, the walnuts themselves are sourced from the U.S.A., with only the packaging being Canadian-made.
Although the Canadian Food Inspection Agency sets guidelines for food labeling, there is no official “Made in Canada” logo.
The CFIA emphasized its commitment to combatting mislabeling, stating it takes enforcement action in cases of non-compliance.
Consumers are advised to scrutinize products claiming to be “Made in Canada” and look for additional details such as country of origin.
Charlebois stresses the importance of regulated labels, stating, “It’s not about the maple leaf; it’s the information on the label that matters. Extra symbols like flags or maple leaves next to the price are just decorations.”
If you suspect a product is falsely labeled, you can lodge a complaint at inspection.canada.ca.